Finally, a Judge Calls Shaken Baby Diagnosis an “Article of Faith”

“Now for the first time, a federal judge has condemned the standard SBS diagnosis itself.”

Jennifer Del Prete has been released from prison after 10 years, pending a new trial. She was convicted in 2005 of killing 14-month-old Isabella Zielinski by shaking when she was working at a suburban Chicago day care facility. She was convicted solely on the basis of SBS “triad” symptoms present in the child. She has steadfastly maintained her innocence.

Deborah Tuerkheimer is a professor of law at DePaul University and author of the recently published book Flawed Convictions, ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ and the Inertia of Injustice. Prof. Tuerkheimer has studied the Del Prete case, among many others, and has written about it. She recently authored an article on the case for online Slate magazine. Read Prof. Deborah Tuerkheimer’s story here.